“If I talk about Messi’s Golden Ball, I could end up in prison” – Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has refused to make any comments on Lionel Messi winning the Golden Ball at the 2014 World Cup, so that he “does not end up in jail”.

The Real Madrid forward was speaking in an interview with Portuguese TV Channel, TVI, and it was aired after he picked up the UEFA European Player of the Year on Thursday evening.

Messi did not make the top three this time around, with Bayern Munich’s duo of Manuel Neuer and Arjen Robben completing the final nominees. But the Argentine captain was awarded the Golden Ball as Brazil 2014 best player earlier this year, much to everyone’s surprise.

“Everyone can see, make their own judgements, the people in the world of football are intelligent,” Ronaldo said. “It would be a very interesting question for him. I cannot be honest about it.”

“If I said everything that I think, I would be in prison.”

Ronaldo also insisted that his supposed rivalry with the Barcelona player, who has also won four Ballon d’Or awards, was created by the media.

“To be honest I think the rivalry thing is created by the press,” Ronaldo said. “Because I do not have any rivalry with him. We go to the award ceremonies. We’ve always had a very professional and normal relationship.”

“Maybe sometimes the press tries to give a better impression of him. Or people simply like his image more.

“It’s normal, we can’t please everyone. I have to respect everyone’s opinion. And I can live with it. And I do not live my life depending on what others think of me.”